Distributor head for stokers



June 21, 1938. 'c. A. BINNEY 2,121,313

DISTRIBUTOR HEAD FOR STOKERS Filed Nov. 9., 1955 4 39 INVENTOR.

OhanZes ABL/mey ATTORNEY.

Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE DISTRIBUTOR HEAD FOR STOKERS poration of Delaware Application November 9, 1935, Serial No. 49,006

7 Claims.

My invention relates to stokers of the scatter feed type, and more particularly to that type wherein the fuel is introduced into the firebox and then projected over the firebed by means. of pressurefluid jets issuing from a chambered distributor head disposed within the firebox.

It is an object of my invention to improve the distributor head used in stokers of the above type by constructing that portion of the head containing the jet orifices as a member which is separable from that portion thereof into which the pressure fluid supply lines are secured.

Asa further object, my invention contemplates the above improvements in stoker distributor heads to the end that the portion of the head which contains the jet orifices may be replaced without disconnecting the pressure fluid supply lines from the distributor head.

It is also an object of my invention to improve the construction of the distributor head whereby the connection of the supply leads thereto is greatly facilitated.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention adapted to a locomotive stoker of a well known type.

On this drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the forward end of a locomotive stoker illustrating my improved distributor head, with portions of the locomotive in central vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the distributor head illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of the distributor head illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, and primarily to Fig. 1, L indicates a locomotive having a boiler mounted above the frame ll. The boiler includes a firebox l2, provided with a grate 13 which extends forwardly from the rear water leg M of the boiler. An opening l5 for manual firing and entry into the firebox I2 is formed by the inner and outer sheets I6 and I1, respectively, of the rear water leg 14. This opening is disposed above the level of the deck l8 of the locomotive cab and is closed by the usual firedoor 20.

The stoker for delivering fuel into the firebox its rear wall 24 disposed adjacent but spaced 0 from the inner sheet 18 of the water leg lcl. A protective grate 25, which is mounted upon the grate bearer 26, surrounds the forward and lateral sides of the upright conduit 22.

Fuel is conveyed through the stoker by means of a conveyor screw 21, the forward end of which terminates within the elbow conduit 2! and forces the .fuel upwardly through the upright conduit 22. As the fuel emerges from the discharge mouth 28 of the upright conduit 22, it is pro pelled forwardly into the firebox by blasts of pressure fluid issuing from the distributor head D. llhe distributor head D, which is disposed at the rear of the rising column of fuel, is novel in construction and in its relation with associated parts of the stoker mechanism as will hereinafter appear.

At its uppermost portion, the rear wall 2 1 of the upright conduit 22 is provided with a recess or indentation 29 on its inner side to receive a flange 30 of the base 3!, the former and latter forming an integral portion of the distributor head D. Bolts 32, passing through the flange 3i! and the rear wall 24 of the upright conduit, rigidly secure the base 31 to the conduit 3 Extending forwardly from the flange it is a pro-.

jection l, V-shaped in transverse cross section and arranged with the crest thereof directed downwardly toward the fuel rising through the upright conduit. A thin triangular-shaped rib 33 connects the crest of the projection l with the flange 30, the rib 33 and V-shaped projection being related so as to offer little, if any, resistance to the upward movement of fuel.

The upper edge 34 of the projection l is smooth and extends rearwardly to the plane of the rear side of the flange 30. Extending in a rearward direction from the aforesaid plane of the flange 39 and formed integrally therewith is a sector-shaped hood 35 in which are formed two rows of passages 36 and 31. Each passage 36, 31 is provided at its lower end with a threaded opening 36a, 31a, respectively, and opens forwardly at its upper end through the face 38 which is perpendicular to the plane of the upper edge 34 and is likewise smoothly finished. At each side of the sector-shaped hood 35 is a flange 39, the inner surface of which is flush with the smoothly finished face 38.

A chambered head 40 is seated upon the base 31 between the face 38 and the upper edge 34 of the base 3|. The head 40 has a smooth bottom surface 4| which seats upon the upper edge 34 of the base 3|. At its rear side, the head 45 is provided with a smooth face 42 and a flange 43 at each side of the head arranged with the outer surface thereof flush with the face 42. The head 40 is provided with two rows of chambers 44, 45, each of which at its rearward end opens through the face 42 and is arranged to register with a respective passage 36 or 31 of the sector-shaped hood. A gasket 46 is interposed between the faces 38, 42 to form an effective joint when the bolts 41 which pass through flanges 39, 43 are drawn tightly.

Each upper chamber 44 is provided at its forward end with forwardly directed jet orifices such as 53, while the lower chambers 45 are each provided with laterally directed jet orifices 5|. Pressure fluid issuing from these jet orifices 50, 5! acts upon the fuel core rising through the upright conduit 22 and projects it forwardly and laterally into the firebox. Pressure fluid is conducted to the chambers 44, 45 by pipes such as 52 which are threaded into the openings 36a, 31a of the hood 35. The pipes 52 extend downwardly from the distributor head D between the inner sheet N5 of the water leg i l and the rear wall 24 of the upright conduit 22 and thence curve downwardly beneath the mud ring 8 of the firebox. At their upper rearward ends, the pipes 52 are connected to a pressure fluid receiving manifold 53, the latter being provided with suitable valves 54 for independently con trolling the pressure of fluid in the respective pipes. In order to facilitate its connection with the manifold 53 and the distributor head D, each pipe 52 is provided with a pair of unions 55, one of which is within the firebox l2 and the other of which is exterior of the firebox.

Those familiar with the art will readily understand that by the invention embodied herein, the chambered head 43 may be replaced when the occasion demands, by removing the bolts 3! which become accessible to a mechanic upon opening of the firedoor 20. Upon removal of the bolts 41, the chambered head 40 is removed and replaced by a new one. This is accomplished without the necessity of disconnecting pipes within the firebox. Prior to this invention it has been necessary to disconnect the pressure fluid supply pipes from the distributor head before the latter could be removed. Since this could only be done after the firebox has cooled sufiiciently for entry thereinto, the locomotive wasremoved from service. By the present invention, the pipe connections between the manifold 53 and the distributor head D are disturbed only when major repairs to the stoker are necessary, such as the repair or renewal of the upright conduit 22.

I claim the following:

1. In combination with a firebox having an upright wall with an opening therein, a stoker for feeding fuel into the firebox comprising a fuel delivery conduit extending into the firebox, a pressure fluid distributor supported within the firebox upon said conduit for projecting fuel over the firebed, said distributor comprising a base member secured to said conduit at the fuel delivery end thereof, means formed with said base member providing a plurality of pressure fluid passages, each of said passages having an intake opening within said firebox, a head removably secured to said base member, said head including a plurality of chambers each being provided at one side with a pressure fluid intake opening, each chamber being arranged for the discharge of pressure fluid at a point remote from its intake opening, each chamber of said head at its intake opening arranged to register with a respective passage of said base member at the end of such passage remote from its intake opening, and means extending within the firebox and secured to said base member for supplying pressure fluid to the intake opening of each passage.

2. In combination with a firebox having an upright Wall with an opening therein, a stoker for feeding fuel into the firebox comprising a fuel delivery conduit extending into the firebox, a pressure fluid distributor supported within the firebox upon said conduit for projecting fuel over the firebed, said distributor comprising a base member secured to said conduit at the fuel I delivery end thereof, means formed with said base member providing a plurality of pressure fluid passages, each of said passages having an intake opening within said firebox, a head removably secured to said base member, said head including a plurality of chambers each being provided at one end with a pressure fluid intake opening, each chamber being arranged for the discharge of pressure fluid at a point remote from its intake opening, each chamber of said head at its intake opening arranged to register with a respective passage of said base member at the end of such passage remote from its intake opening, a source of pressure fluid, and pipes extending between said source of supply and the distributor head for supplying pressure fluid to the intake opening of each passage, each pipe being provided with a coupling member within said firebox.

3. In combination with a firebox having an upright Wall with an opening therein, a stoker for feeding fuel into the firebox comprising a fuel delivery conduit extending into the firebox and positioned adjacent but in spaced relation with the named firebox wall, a pressure fluid distributor supported upon said conduit for projectingfuel over the firebed, said distributor comprising a base member secured to said conduit at the delivery end thereof, a sector-shaped hood formed with said base member and ineluding a plurality of pressure fluid passages, each of said passages having an intake opening within the firebox directed downward in the space between the conduit and the firebox upright wall, a head removably secured to said base member, said head including a plurality of chambers each being provided at one end with a pressure fluid intake opening, each chamber being arranged for the discharge of pressure fluid at a point remote from its intake opening, each chamber of said head at its intake opening arranged to register with a respective passage of said sect0r-shaped hood at the end of such passage remote from its intake opening, and means extending within the firebox and secured to said sector-shaped hood for supplying pressure fluid to the intake opening of each passage.

4. In combination with a firebox having an upright wall with an opening therein, a stoker for feeding fuel into the firebox comprising a fuel delivery conduit extending into the firebox plurality of pressure fluid passages, each of said passages having an intake opening within the firebox directed downward in the space between the conduit and the firebox upright wall, a head removably secured to said base member, said head including a plurality of chambers each being provided at one end with a pressure fluid intake opening, each chamber being arranged for the discharge of pressure fluid at a point remote from its intake opening, each chamber of said head at its intake opening arranged to register with a respective passage of said sector-shaped hood at the end of such passage remote from its intake opening, a source of pressure fluid, and pipes extending between said source of supply and the sector-shaped hood of said distributor'head for supplying pressure fluid to the intake opening of each passage, each pipe being provided with a.

coupling member within said firebox.

5. In combination with a firebox having an upright wall with an opening therein, a stoker for feeding fuel into the firebox comprising a fuel delivery conduit extending into the flreboxand positioned adjacent but in spaced relation with the named firebox wall, a pressure fluid distributor supported upon said conduit for projecting fuel over the firebed, said distributor comprising a base member secured to said conduit at the delivery end thereof, a sector-shaped hood formed respective passage of said sector-shaped hood at the end of such passage remote from its intake opening, a source of pressure fluid, and pipes extending between said source of supply and the sector-shaped hood of said distributor head for supplying pressure fluid to theintake opening of each passage, each pipe extending into the space between said conduit and the firebox upright wall and being provided thereat with a coupling member.

6. A distributor for stokers comprising a base member, an attachment flange formed with said base member whereby said distributor is adapted to be secured in its operative position, means formed with said base member at one side of said attachment flange providing a plurality of pressure fluid passages, a projection extending outwardly from the side of said attachment flange opposite said means, each of said passages being provided with an intake opening at one end thereof and with an outlet at its opposite end, each of said outlets being disposed above the plane of said projection, a head seated upon said projection, said head including a plurality of chambers each being provided at one end with a pressure fluid intake opening, each chamber being arranged for the discharge of pressure fluid at a point remote from its intake opening, the

intake opening of each chamber of said head arranged to register with a respective outlet in the passage of said base member, and means for removably securing said chamberedhead to said base member.

'7. A base member of a two part distributor for stokers comprising, when in operative position, an attachment flange forming the lower portion (of said base member, a sector-shaped hood formed With said base member at one side of said attachment flange, a projection V-shaped in transverse cross section formed with the side of said attachment flange opposite said hood, said hood including a plurality of pressure fluid passages each provided with a threaded intake opening and an outlet, the latter being disposed above the plane of said V-shaped projection, and an attachment flange formed at each side of the sector-shaped hood above said first named attachment flange.

CHARLES A. BINNEY. 

